Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week my honourable colleague, Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, spoke about the government’s responsibility to make clients aware of important program rules and criteria changes on a timely basis. It has come to my attention that this is not happening in some cases with the student financial assistance program and that is causing unfair hardship. In one particular case, I am aware that a student has signed a loan, a contract, Mr. Speaker, for 10 monthly instalments of $1,100 to help fund her education. Unfortunately, she has learned two months before the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for the willingness, Mr. Minister, I can hear in your voice to address this matter. Mr. Speaker, I guess lastly, does the Minister consider it serious that a signed contract is broken? Does the Minister take that very seriously? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what efforts his department takes to warn students that the amount of their loans may be reduced later on in the year, and what do they do to notify students on a timely basis that their loan amounts may be addressed? What notice do they provide if any? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the opportunity to recognize a friend of mine, Richard Archer, upstairs. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to thank the Minister as well. Mr. Speaker, what I am trying to describe here is we have a signed contract where students are supposed to receive 10 payments, but they are receiving nine. They are officially being cut off, and it has been put into writing because technically they are one day short of attendance into the June month period. So they are attending five days, whereas they need to be attending six days to receive any money. So that was the reason they are being cut off from any future payments. Would the Minister commit today to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke about the NWT student loan agreement that was cut off on short notice. The students that sign these contracts are in real need of financial support, and they count on the money that they are promised by the government. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In what circumstances does he consider it appropriate for his department to change the amount of a student loan agreement, a signed contract, without the student’s knowledge or consent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for your answer. Mr. Speaker, my last question I believe at this time is will the Minister take any additional steps or actions to ensure the protection of the NWT citizens from convicted sex offenders during the delay of the implementation of this act? Is he willing to take any additional steps? Thank you.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal Sex Offender Information Registry Act passed third reading in the Senate, and received Royal Assent on April 1st of this year. Mr. Speaker, when it comes into force, the act will require sex offenders in the NWT to register with police in designated centres. Their personal information will be recorded, and their whereabouts will be monitored for the well-being and safety of the NWT residents. According to Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the Sex Offender Information Registry Act will come into force in the fall of 2004...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am only concerned about the obligation of safety, whereas the territorial government may see no smoking as a personal obligation, yet the territorial government engages in non-smoking policies and safety policies. Last year was an anomaly and we pointed out the uniqueness of it, whereas qualified lifeguards were not available. This year they are available, so I would like to think that the territorial government is trying to ensure the lifeguards are there. I am asking for the Minister to ensure that he will be there contractually to help support through financial...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will first say I noted the willingness to talk to the City of Yellowknife in the Minister’s voice there, so I may forego my other excitable questions by asking for a commitment today that the Minister will open up negotiations with the City of Yellowknife as soon as possible to ensure that we do have life-guarding services in this territorial park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.